NASA/JSC has a requirement for the utilization of the Aquarius undersea laboratory to conduct analog missions to assess operational, medical, and flight system approaches and capabilities in support of definition and validation of exploration requirements and plans. Aquarius is the only currently operational undersea research laboratory in the world. It contains a unique infrastructure to support the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) project. NEEMO is a multi-disciplinary training and research project at the NASA Johnson Space Center, which partners in research with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the owners of the Aquarius undersea laboratory. Aquarius is operated thru the National Undersea Research Center (NURC) by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) and is administered through NOAA’s Undersea Research Program (NURP).

NASA/JSC intends to purchase these services from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). The required services are available from only one responsible source, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified points of contact no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on March 8, 2012. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer to be considered by the agency.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B".

Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below:

This is a modification to the synopsis entitled RENTAL OF UNDERSEA RESEARCH HABITAT FOR NASA EXTREME ENVIRONMENT MISSION OPERATIONS MISSION 16 which was posted on March 5, 2012. You are notified that the following changes are made:

The response due date is March 19, 2012.

The due date for responses is not extended.

Documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/JSC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=73

Offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for the release of the solicitation and any amendments. Potential offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any).